Bloomington, Indiana – As autumn settles over Bloomington, the city is preparing for one of its most dynamic events of the year—Innovation Week 2025, a four-day celebration of creativity, technology, and civic imagination. From November 4 to 7, local visionaries will gather across venues large and small to share, test, and launch the ideas that could define the city’s future.
Organized by The Mill, Bloomington’s hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, the weeklong festival is more than just a collection of speeches and workshops. It’s a call to action. Each day will spotlight a different sector of innovation—healthcare, government technology, artificial intelligence, and the arts—offering attendees a chance to engage directly with the people driving change across Indiana.
“Innovation Week is our community’s commitment to action. This isn’t about waiting for the future—it’s about building it together, right here in Bloomington, with the entrepreneurs, artists, and thinkers who call this place home,” said John Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer of The Mill.
A Week Designed for Builders and Dreamers
The lineup begins on Tuesday, November 4, with HealthTech Day, a full schedule dedicated to breakthroughs in healthcare innovation. Vincent Wong, CEO and President of BioCrossroads, will open with a keynote address on how Indiana is cultivating a robust life sciences ecosystem. Attendees can look forward to a forward-looking panel on the future of patient care, a pop-up exhibit highlighting historical medical devices, and an evening investing happy hour for those ready to put capital behind their convictions.
The energy continues on Wednesday, November 5, with GovTech Day, where civic leaders and technologists will explore how government and innovation can move forward together. The day’s keynote comes from Andrew Kossack, CEO and President of ARI, who will discuss emerging defense technologies and their role in national and state-level security. Roundtable sessions will encourage peer collaboration, while guided tours of Indiana University’s Applied Research Center (ARC) and a virtual reality civics game demo promise hands-on learning experiences.
Artificial Intelligence Takes Center Stage
Thursday, November 6, turns the spotlight toward AI Day, a topic that continues to dominate global conversations. David Crandall, Director of the Luddy Artificial Intelligence Center, will delve into the ethical and social dimensions of AI, including its relationship with surveillance and data privacy. Throughout the day, panels will address how industries are transforming under the influence of artificial intelligence, followed by outdoor demonstrations that bring emerging technologies to life. The day concludes with a special evening screening of an AI-themed documentary, offering a reflective close to a high-tech day.
Art, Community, and a Downtown Celebration
The week culminates on Friday, November 7, with Arts, Community & Celebration Day, where Bloomington’s creative spirit takes center stage. Ben Swanson, Co-founder of Secretly Group, will deliver a keynote on the role of arts in civic life, setting the tone for a lively panel exploring how artists and innovators together shape cultural identity and economic vitality.
The evening will burst into color and sound with a Block Party in the Trades District (5–8 PM), a community celebration open to all. Food, music, and conversation will spill into the streets before the festivities wrap up with a film screening at IU Cinema, offering a cinematic finale to a week devoted to inspiration and collaboration.
From start to finish, Innovation Week 2025 promises to turn vision into action, inviting everyone—students, professionals, and curious residents alike—to take part in shaping the city’s next chapter.
Event details and registration are available at dimensionmill.org/innovation-week, and those eager to attend can RSVP through Zeffy’s ticketing platform. For the final celebration, attendees can register for the Block Party here.
This November, Bloomington won’t just be talking about innovation—it will be building it.
